If you suffer from mild to severe rosacea there are certain lifestyle changes that can be implemented to help decrease flare ups and keep symptoms to a minimum. These aggravating factors may or may not affect your flare ups, but if you find that they do, it may be a good idea to avoid or reduce these activities in the future.  

1. Sun exposure-

It is important to protect your skin from the sun using daily sunscreen and wearing a hat to shield your skin. Even a small amount of sun exposure can cause rosacea to flare. 

2. Hot liquids-

Many people with rosacea report having flare ups when they ingest hot liquids such as coffee or teas. Try your coffee or tea iced for a period of time and see if your symptoms improve or subside.

3. Spicy Foods-

Avoiding spicy foods may also improve symptoms of rosacea. Often times, the spike in body temperature induced by spicy foods is thought to cause flare ups.

4. Emotional Upset-

Feelings of stress, anger or embarrassment are thought to make rosacea symptoms worse.

5. Seasonal Changes-

Changes in the weather can also affect flare ups. According to a new National Rosacea Society (NRS) patient survey, nearly 90% of 852 survey respondents said their rosacea is affected by the change in seasons.

6. Alcohol-

Having a glass of wine at the end of a stressful day sounds relaxing, but if you suffer from rosacea it may cause flushing to become worse. The reason for this is unknown, however, alcohol does not cause rosacea despite pervious popular belief.

7. Temperature Extremes-

Extreme hot and cold can cause flare ups of rosacea to be more frequent. If you must be exposed to extreme temperatures, try to stay covered up or stay cool to keep your body temperature as regular as possible.

8. Strenuous exercise-

Exercise has been reported to increase flare ups and cause flushing. Taking it easy can be beneficial to thwart symptoms.

9. Hot baths or saunas-

Once again, avoiding extremes in temperatures such as hot showers or baths can help reduce flushing. Maintaining a regular body temperature can help reduce flare ups.

10. Drugs that dilate blood vessels, including some blood pressure medications-

Rosacea affects the blood vessels of the face and any drug that dilates blood vessels can increase irritation and flushing.

Making simple lifestyle changes like avoiding certain aggravating factors, such as the ones listed above, can help to reduce your symptoms and flare ups. However, going in to see your dermatologist can be the best choice. Your dermatologist can evaluate your skin and determine the best course of action for treatment. Many perscription topicals can provide significant improvement .

If you or someone you care about suspects rosacea, give our office a call today for a full skin evaluation. 

574.522.0265

No referral neceassary. 

 Most people should see a dermatologist because skin cancer is at epidemic proportions, according to many experts.  It is estimated that up to 1 in 5 Americans will get skin cancer at some point in their life.  With this high rate, it is best for each of us to get in the habit of monthly self-examinations.  Also, seeing a skin specialist, a dermatologist, annually is a wise step in early detection of skin cancer. 

Most cancers of the skin are easily treated if they are detected and treated early.  So plan on seeing a dermatologist each year, as it might very well be an investment in your future.  At DermacenterMD, we believe education is key to good health and success which is why we  give out our free ‘Skin Cancer Educational Guide’ to each patient.  Knowing what to look for can be a powerful tool in combating skin cancer.  

We would be honored to see you.  We want you looking and feeling great!

Call today us at (574)522-0265 for your skin cancer screening exam.

No referral necessary.

Did you know? There are actually clothes out there that have built in SPF to help better protect your skin. Several clothing companies are dedicated to crafting clothing that have an SPF of 50 and block 98% of UVA and UVB rays. They offer a wide range of clothes for women, men and children.

So how does it work? The clothes have SPF built right into the fabric. Covering your skin and having built-in SPF offers maximum protection from the sun. There are several companies to choose from that offer sun-protective clothing. Two very well-known companies are Solumbra and Coolibar. You can purchase shirts, hats, pants, accessories and exercise clothing. Check out their websites below:

Coolibar: www.coolibar.com

Solumbra: www.sunprecautions.com

However, it is still important to wear your sunscreen. Wearing sunscreen ensures that your skin will be protected. When you choose a sunscreen, be sure to read the label and make sure that it contains at least one of the following ingredients: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or parsol 1789 (avobenzone). Having these ingredients in your sunscreen will offer you the best protection from the UVB rays and the more harmful and deep penetrating UVA rays. When it comes to sunscreen, choosing a sunscreen with the right ingredients is essential, but the most important thing to remember is to apply ENOUGH sunscreen. Choosing an SPF of 30 or higher is idea and you should be applying 1 ounce or 2 tablespoons for the entire body. To get the most out of your sunscreen you should apply it 20 minutes before going out and then right before you go out into the sun. If you will be out for an extended period of time, be sure to reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours.

Protecting your skin from the sun is important! Enjoy the sun, but take the proper precautions to ensure you have a happy, healthy and bright future!

P.S. Don’t forget your shades and a hat! You’ll be looking stylish while also protecting your skin! You can’t go wrong with that!

A sunburn is the pink to red color our skin becomes as a warning sign and reaction to being in the sun too long.  Most of us have had at least one sunburn in our life.  Understanding why it happens and the possible consequences can help us avoid this harmful reaction in the future.

Sunburn is the skin’s response to an excess amount of ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.   The skin initially does not turn pink right away, but rather it often loses moisture and can feel tight or painful.   The skin will begin to turn pink or red, which might not show up for hours after the exposure.  Often we do not realize what has happened to our skin until it is too late. 

Even as little as 10 minutes of intense UV exposer can burn the skin causing redness, tenderness and swelling.   In response to UV rays, the outer layer of skin produces a tanning pigment called melanin.  This melanin is a protective agent which blocks some of the harmful UV rays which normally penetrate the skin.  Some of the harmful rays can cause damage to the skin’s DNA which can ultimately lead to skin cancer. 

Sunburns can have harmful effects on the body, even years after exposure.  Science has shown that even a single blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence more than doubles a person’s chances of developing melanoma later in life. A person’s risk for melanoma, the most serious and potentially fatal form of skin cancer, doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns. The two most common types of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, are also directly related to sun accumulation over many years. The most common locations for these cancers are sun-exposed areas: the face, ears and hands.

It is so important to avoid sunburns if at all possible.  The most useful tip to avoid sunburn is to avoid the sun and protect the skin.   Wear sunscreen when you are outside, even for short periods.    Sunscreens with an SPF of at least 30 or higher which contain one of the following ingredients: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or parsol 1789 (avobenzone) are best.  Also protective clothing and avoiding the sun a when it is at the worst, typically 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is ideal.   Protecting your skin is essential to your health and well-being. Be sun smart this summer and protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun!